Vehicle playing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A vehicle playing apparatus on which a player himself or herself operates a simulation vehicle. The apparatus comprises a vehicle moving variably on which a player rides, driving mechanism 33, 70 for driving the vehicle detection member 25, 26, 35 for detecting a state of the vehicle, operation member 42, 46 provided on the vehicle, and controller 80 for controlling the drive mechanism based on a detection signal inputted from the detection member and an operation signal inputted from the operation member. The controller judges the state of the vehicle in accordance with the detection signal, indication and timing of the operation signal in view of the state, of vehicle to output an instruction signal to the drive mechanism.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle playing apparatus having asimulated vehicle on which a player rides to operate it.

BACKGROUND ART

Some vehicle playing apparatuses of this kind simulate an actual vehiclesuch as a motorcar, motorcycle or aeroplane. The simulated vehicle doesnot run actually, but moves in accordance with an operation instructionof the player as far as it can afford surplus move.

The coffee-cup playing apparatus in an amusement park or the like hassome small disks rotatively supported on a large rotary disk. On thesmall disk are disposed a plurality of vehicles shaped like coffee cupsso as to rotate about its own axis and a player riding on the vehiclecan rotate the vehicle by hand operation.

The player on the vehicle (coffee cup) moves along a complicatedorbiting path produced by combination of two revolutions due torotations of the large and small disks and rotation of the coffee cup.The speed changes moment by moment. Meanwhile the coffee cup isaccelerated or decelerated by controlling its rotation by handoperation.

In the former example simulating an actual vehicle, the simulatedvehicle moves in accordance with the operation instruction alwaysregardless of state of movement of the vehicle so far as it can affordsurplus move, and timing of operation instruction has no effect on themovement. Therefore, it is impossible to enjoy a technical skill such asdeciding timing of operation judging from the state of movement of thevehicle.

In the latter example of the coffee-cup playing apparatus, since thecoffee cup is rotated by hand operation while the coffee cup makes acomplicated move, at a time point, speeds are added to accelerate and atanother time point, speeds are offset to decelerate. However, it isimpossible to decide timing of operation previously judging from thestate of movement of the vehicle.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in view of the foregoing andit is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle playing apparatusby which players can enjoy and contest a technical skill such asdeciding indication and timing of operation judging from a state ofmovement of a vehicle.

In order to attain the above object, the present invention provides avehicle playing apparatus comprising a vehicle moving variably on whicha player rides; drive means for driving the vehicle; detection means fordetecting a state of the vehicle; operation means provided on thevehicle; and control means for controlling the drive means based on adetection signal inputted from the detection means and an operationsignal inputted from the operation means. The above-mentioned controlmeans judges the state of the vehicle in accordance with the detectionsignal and judges indication and timing of the operation signal in viewof the state of the vehicle to output an instruction signal to the drivemeans. Therefore, movements of the vehicle are different in accordancewith instruction of operation by the player and timing thereof.

Accordingly, the player has to judge the state of the vehicle throughthe senses and give a pertinent instruction of operation timely and isrequired sensory skill so that the player can enjoy pleasure of progressand pleasure of contesting technical skill.

According to the above-mentioned vehicle playing apparatus wherein thevehicle moves variably along an orbiting path and the orbiting path isdivided into an orbiting range in which the vehicle is automaticallymoved and another orbiting range in which the vehicle behaves differentmoves in accordance with operation of the player, even a beginner canenjoy going through the variable movement in the former orbiting range,and an expert can enjoy the play in the latter range.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the control meansoutputs an instruction signal to the drive means so as to encouragepresent movement of the vehicle when the indication and timing of theoperation signal are judged pertinent in view of the state of thevehicle, when the player judges the state of the vehicle through thesenses and gives a pertinent indication of operation timely, themovement of the vehicle at present is encouraged to increase itsvelocity and width, so that the player can go through more excitingmovement.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the vehicle movesvariably along a plurality of orbiting paths, the driving means,detection means and operation means are provided for each of theorbiting paths respectively, and the control means outputs instructionsignals for each of the orbiting paths to corresponding driving means,movement of the vehicle is complicated so that the player can go throughmore exciting movement and is required a high level of skill, and theapparatus can be made more interesting.

If a sum of velocities of variable moves on the plurality of theorbiting paths is always kept below a predetermined value, safety isensured.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the vehicle movesalong two orbiting path, a sum of a velocity of variable move on anorbiting path and a velocity of variable move on another orbiting pathis constant, and when the velocity on an orbiting path is maximum, thevelocity on another orbiting path is minimum, the player on the vehiclecan go through a pertinent velocity always to enjoy an exciting play.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein a plurality ofoperation means are provided for an orbiting path of the vehicle, andthe control means decides the instruction signal to be outputted to thedrive means based on a plurality of operation signals from the operationmeans, a plurality of players can ride on one vehicle to operateseparately.

If the control means selects a most pertinent operation signal among theoperation signals in view of the state of the vehicle for deciding theinstruction signal, the vehicle is moved by an expert most skillful inthe operation so that another player riding on the vehicle together withthe expert also can go through the same exciting experience.

If the control means calculates a mean value of the operation signalsfor deciding the instruction signal, when operations of the players onthe vehicle are pertinent on an average, the vehicle moves excitingly toafford more interesting experience. Namely, whether or not operations ofplayers on the same board coincide with each other influences movementof the vehicle.

Further, the present invention provides a vehicle playing apparatuscomprising: a vehicle moving variably on which a player rides; drivemeans for moving the vehicle; operation signal output means foroutputting an operation signal in response to an operation of theplayer; detection means for detecting a state of the vehicle; andcontrol means for controlling the drive means to change movement of thevehicle in response to the operation signal only when it is judged thatthe vehicle is in a predetermined state.

In this apparatus, the player has to judge state of the vehicle anddecide an operation timing himself and is required a technical skill sothat his intention to the play is roused and the interest is continued.

If the control means controls the drive means in accordance with aprogram automatically when the state of the vehicle detected by thedetection means is different from a predetermined state, even a beginnerhaving no skill can enjoy going through movement of the vehicle.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the vehicle is aboard hung from a pivotal shaft so as to rock freely moving right andleft along a pendulum rocking orbiting path, a non-experienced man cansimulatively experience an actual half-pipe game in which a playerriding on a skateboard or a snow-board runs along an inner surface of ahalf cylinder, as a road surface for running right and left like apendulum and revolves at a position separated from the road surface witha large rocking angle to contest a technical skill.

If the driving means comprises a rotary friction wheel coming intocontact with an arcuate lower surface of the board to rock the board,rocking of the board can be controlled when the friction wheel contactswith the lower surface of the board and in other case the board carriesout an natural pendulum motion so that a movement of the board verysimilar to that of the actual half-pipe game can be realized.

If operation means to be operated by feet of the player on the board isprovided, the player can have a simulative experience as if he were onan actual skateboard.

If the operation means comprises a pair of step plates provided on anupper surface of the board for placing respective feet of the player andpressure sensors fitted to the respective step plates for detectingstepping forces of the feet, and detection signal of the pressure sensoris used as the operation signal, the player can operate the board byshifting his own weight so as to give different stepping forces by theright and left feet in the same manner as in case of the actualskateboard.

If the control means outputs an instruction signal to the drive means soas to encourage present rocking of the vehicle when indications andtimings of both operation signals from a pair of the step plates arejudged pertinent in view of rocking state of the vehicle, operatingmanner for the board becomes almost the same as that for the actualskateboard so that a simulative experience near the practice more can beobtained and as the operation is more pertinent to encourage therocking, the player can experience more exciting move.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the operation meanscomprises plural pairs of step plates provided on an upper surface ofthe board on which respective feet of a plurality of players are placedand pressure sensors fitted to the step plates to detect stepping forcesof right and left feet, and a detection signal from the pressure sensoris used as the operation signal, a plurality of players can enjoy on oneboard.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the control meansselects an operation signal from signals of a pair of step plates whichis judged that indication and timing are most pertinent in view ofrocking state of the vehicle and outputs an instruction signal to thedrive means based on the selected signal so as to encourage presentrocking of the vehicle, since a most pertinent operation amongoperations by a plurality of players on the same board is selected, theboard is moved by an expert most skillful in the operation so thatanother player riding on the same board together with the expert alsocan go through the same exciting experience.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the vehicle is aboard hung from a pivotal shaft for rocking, capable of revolving aboutits own central vertical axis, having a rocking orbiting path directedright and left and a revolving orbiting path round the vertical axis;rocking drive means, rocking detection means and rocking operation meanscorresponding to the rocking orbiting path are provided; revolving drivemeans, revolving detection means and revolving operation meanscorresponding to the revolving orbiting path are provided; and thecontrol means outputs respective instruction signals for the orbitingpaths to corresponding drive means, the board can be revolved as well asrocked in the same manner as the board of the actual half-pipe game.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein a slanting platesupporting a pair of step plates is pivoted on an upper surface of theboard so as to slant; the rocking operation means is constituted by thestep plates and pressure sensors fitted to the step plates, detectionsignal of the pressure sensor being used as the rocking operationsignal; the revolving operation means is constituted by the slantingplate and slanting sensors fitted to the slanting plate, detectionsignal of the slanting sensor being used as the revolving operationsignal, the player can carry out the revolving control of the board byshifting his own weight front and rear and the rocking control of theboard by shifting his own weight right and left, placing his right andleft feet on the step plates respectively.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein the control meansoutputs an instruction signal to the rocking drive means so as toencourage present rocking of the board when indication and timing of therocking operation signal are judged pertinent in view of rocking stateof the board, and outputs an instruction signal to the revolving drivemeans so as to revolve the board when indication and timing of therevolving operation signal is judged pertinent in view of rocking stateof the board, if the rocking operation of the player is pertinent,rocking velocity and rocking angle of the board become large to give anexciting experience, in the same time, if the revolving operation of theplayer is pertinent, the board can be revolved by several times at ahigh velocity so that the player can enjoy a more interesting play.

If the control means judges that timing of the revolving operationsignal is more pertinent and outputs an instruction signal to therevolving drive means so as to revolve the board faster as rockingvelocity of the board is smaller, the board can be revolved faster whenthe board is separated from the road surface and the rocking velocity issmaller, in the same manner as in case of the actual half-pipe game.

According to the vehicle playing apparatus wherein a slanting platesupporting pairs of step plate is pivoted on an upper surface of theboard so as to slant, pairs of pressure sensors fitted to respective thestep plates for outputting rocking operation signals as the rockingoperation means, and the control means selects an operation signal fromthe rocking operation signals which is judged that indication and timingare most pertinent in view of rocking state of the board and outputs aninstruction signal to the rocking drive means based on the selectedsignal so as to encourage present rocking of the board, a plurality ofplayers can ride on one board to enjoy the operation at the same time,thereby the operation of an expert takes precedence so that anotherplayer riding together can have the same exciting experience as theexpert. However, since the revolving operation is carried out byslanting the slanting plate which is operated by a plurality of players,the board does not revolve unless all players coincide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view of a half-pipe game playing apparatusaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly omitted front view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a hanging construction of a board;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part showing a rockingmechanism;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an essential part showing a revolvingmechanism;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the board including a horizontal revolvingframe;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the board partly in section;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the board partly in section;

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a rocking drive mechanism partly insection;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the same;

FIG. 11 is a rough block diagram showing a control system of thehalf-pipe game playing apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a view for illustrating a rocking control method;

FIG. 13 is a view for illustrating a revolving control method;

FIG. 14 is a view for illustrating a method for setting revolving speed;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an example of play sequence; and

FIG. 16 is a view for illustrating change of rocking of the board by theplay sequence.

THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a half-pipe game playing apparatus 1according to the preferred embodiment. Two triangles each having twostruts elected diagonally for forming an upper portion at which thestruts are connected to each other are provided in front and rear facingeach other and a horizontal cross pipe 3 is laid between theabove-mentioned upper portions.

A pivotal shaft 4 is laid under the horizontal cross pipe 3 and betweenthe triangles in parallel with the horizontal cross pipe 3. The pivotalshaft 4 is supported from the horizontal cross pipe 3 by some pairs ofsupporting brackets 5. In the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, four pairs ofsupporting brackets 5 are disposed at regular intervals along thehorizontal cross pipe 3.

At every pair, a rocking arm 6 is hung between opposite brackets 5 so asto rock freely with a base end pivoted on the pivotal shaft 4. A longboard 8 simulating a skateboard or a snow-board is hung from the rockingarm 6 by a pair of revolving arms 7.

Therefore, the board 8 can be rocked about the pivotal shaft 4 right andleft like a pendulum. Four such boards 8 are disposed in front and rearand each board 8 can carry one or two players P.

A framework 10 like a half-pipe is constructed along an orbiting path onwhich the board 8 rocks.

A notice board 11 for guidance is provided in front of the framework 10and on one side of the notice board 11 is erected an observation standfor a watchman Q.

The player P riding on the board 8 stands turning his back on one of therevolving arms 7 and fasten a safety belt to participate in the play.

On a bottom portion of the framework 10 extending along the orbitingpath of the board 8 is disposed a rocking drive mechanism using frictionwheels 60 for rocking the board 8.

The board 8 can revolve as well as rock along the framework 10 like apendulum, therefore the player P on the board 8 can undergo a simulativeexperience as if he were participating in a actual half-pipe game andplaying.

Though two players cannot ride at a time in case of the actual board,two players can ride on the board 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the rocking arm 6 is pivoted on thepivotal shaft 4 and a pair of revolving arms 7 extends from both ends ofa horizontal revolving frame 15 pivotally supported at a lower end ofthe rocking arm 6.

The board 8 is provided between lower ends of the revolving arms 7.Therefore, the board 8 can revolve about the rocking arm 6 as well asrock right and left about the pivotal shaft 4. Thus the board 8 has twoorbiting path, a rocking orbiting path and a revolving orbiting path.

FIG. 4 shows detail of a pivot portion at a base end of the rocking arm6. A connecting plate 20 extending in front and rear is fixed to thebase end of the rocking arm 6 perpendicularly thereto, and a pair offront and rear bearing plates 21 are erected on the connecting plate 20.Each bearing plate 21 is arranged inside of a corresponding supportingbracket 5 and penetrated by the pivotal shaft 4 to be supported througha bearing 22.

Between one of the supporting brackets 5 and a bearing plate 21corresponding thereto is provided a gear 23 fitted onto the pivotalshaft 4. The gear 23 engages with a gear 27 fitted onto a rotary shaftof a pulse generator 25 and a tachometer generator 26 which aresupported by the supporting bracket 5 through a fixing piece 24.Therefore, rocking angle of the board 8 is detected by the pulsegenerator 25 and rocking angular velocity of the board 8 is detected bythe tachometer generator 26.

FIG. 5 shows a structure for revolving the horizontal revolving frame 15at a bottom part of the rocking arm 6. A lower end 6a of the rocking arm6 is fitted in the middle of the horizontal revolving frame 15 through abearing 30. A gear 31 fitted on an outer race 30a of the bearing 30engages with a gear 34 fitted on a drive shaft of a revolving servomotor33 which is attached to the rocking arm 6 by a fixing metal 32.Therefore, the horizontal revolving frame 15 is driven by the revolvingservomotor 33 through the gears 34, 31 to revolve about the rocking arm6. A position sensor 35 is attached between a lower end integral withthe rocking arm 6 and a part extending downward from the outer race 30ato detect a basic point of revolution of the board 8.

The horizontal revolving frame 15 and the board 8 are connected by apair of revolving arms 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal revolvingframe 15 is directed obliquely with regard to the lengthwise directionof the board 8 and each revolving arm going down from each end of thehorizontal revolving frame 15 forks off into two branches halfway andfixed to a side edge of the board 8. Therefore, fixing positions of tworevolving arms 7 to the board 8 are alternated in the lengthwisedirection of the board 8.

The board 8 has a rectangular opening at the middle of the upper faceand a slanting plate 40 is fitted in the opening with a littleclearance. The slanting plate 40 is supported by coaxial pivots 41 atthe both ends so as to slant freely about the pivots 41. However, theslanting plate 40 is forced to be maintained horizontal always andslanting angle thereof is limited to be small.

As shown in FIG. 8, limit switches 42, 42 are disposed under respectivemiddles of both lengthwise side edges of the slanting plate 40 so thatslanting of the slanting plate 40 can be detected when the plate 40slants to turn on either limit switch 42.

On the upper surface of the long rectangular slanting plate 40 areformed four rectangular step plates in a line. The step plates 45 aresomewhat displaced when they are pushed from above and under respectivestep plates are disposed pressure sensors 46 to detect pushing forcesapplied to the step plates 45 as shown in FIG. 7.

The step plates 45 are positioned on the axis of the pivots 41. Theplayer P stands turning his back on the revolving arm 7 and putting hisboth feet on neighboring respective step plates 45, 45.

Therefore, when the player P shifts his weight to any one of his rightand left feet, the weight shift can be detected by comparing twodetection values of the pressure sensors 46 under the step plates 45.Further, when the player P shifts his weight to the heel or to the toe,the slanting plate 40 slants and the weight shift can be detected byeither limit switch 42.

When two players P rides on the board 8 together, the weight shift toeither foot can be detected with respect to each player. However, sincethe slanting plate 40 is common to both players, if the players try toslant the slanting plate 40 to opposite directions, slanting motions areoffset with each other and the slanting plate 40 does not slant untilthe players coincides with each other to slant the slanting plate 40 tothe same direction for turning on the limit switch 42.

On a lower surface of the board 8 are attached running racks 51 througha connecting section 50. The running racks 51 extend parallel with eachother directed in the lengthwise direction of the board 8 and have lowersurfaces formed in gentle arcuate surfaces.

On the one hand, as shown in FIG. 2, on a bottom portion shaped in ahalf circular arc facing upward of a frame 10a assembled in thehalf-pipe-like frame work 10, seven friction wheels 60 in all aredisposed at regular intervals symmetrically with respect to the onedisposed at the center. The running rack 51 of the board 8 comes intocontact with these friction wheels 60 in order.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the friction wheel 60 at the center and a rockingmechanism neighboring it. On a base 61 are erected a pair of front andrear bearing plates 62 between which a pivot 63 is laid. A rocking frame64 with an end pivotally supported on the pivot 63 extends horizontallyand between another end of the rocking frame 64 and the base 61 isplaced a compression spring 65.

A gear box 66 is mounted on the rocking frame 64 which is capable ofrocking up and down. The gear box 66 has power transmission shafts 67,67 projected right and left and output shafts 68, 68 projected front andrear so that power inputted from one of the power transmission shafts 67is transmitted to the front and rear output shafts 68, 68 through bevelgears engaging with each other to rotate the output shafts and alsotransmitted to another transmission shaft 67 to rotate it in the samedirection at the same speed as the above-mentioned one transmissionshaft 67.

The front and rear output shafts 68 have respective friction wheels 60fitted so as to be rotated.

On one power transmission shaft 67 is fitted a pulley 69 and atransmission belt 72 is wound round the pulley 69 and a pulley 71 fittedon a drive shaft of a rocking servomotor 70 attached to the base 61 sothat the above one power transmission shaft 67 is driven by the rockingservomotor 70 to rotate.

Tip ends of the right and rear power transmission shafts 67 areconnected to connecting rods 75 through universal joints 74. Eachconnecting rod 75 is connected to a power transmission shaft 67 of aneighboring gear box 66 through a similar universal joint 74 to transmitthe power.

Other gear boxes 66 have the same construction with exception of thepulley 69 which is provided on the central gear box 66 only. Everyneighboring gear boxes are connected through a universal joint 74 and aconnecting rod 75 to transmit the power.

Therefore, the seven pairs of friction wheels 60 are driven by onerocking servomotor 70 through seven gear boxes 66 connected with eachother by the connecting rods 75 to rotate together in the same directionat the same speed. The board 8 with the running rack 51 coming intocontact with the friction wheel 60 is rocked by rotation of the frictionwheel 60. The friction wheel 60 is pushed against the lower surface ofthe running rack 51 by the compression spring 65 to ensure the rollingcontact.

FIG. 11 shows a rough block diagram of a control system of the half-pipegame playing apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned structure.

A computer control by a controller 80 is carried out. Into thecontroller 80 are inputted operation signals relating to operations byfeet of two players P from four pressure sensors 46 and two limitswitches 42, a rocking angle detection signal from the pulse generator25, a rocking angular velocity detection signal from the tachometergenerator 26 and a revolving basic point detection signal from theposition sensor 35.

The controller 80 processes these inputted signals to output a rockinginstruction signal to a motor driver 81 which drives the rockingservomotor 70 in accordance with the instruction. The controller 80 alsooutputs a revolving instruction signal to a motor driver 82 which drivesthe revolving servomotor 33 in accordance with the instruction.

At first, rocking control will be described. Referring to FIG. 12, "O"denotes a fulcrum of a pendulum corresponding to the pivotal shaft 4 anda rocking angle θ is measured starting from the lowest point θ₀ of thependulum. A range on the both sides of the lowest point θ₀ wherein thefriction wheels 60 exist is a drive area in which rocking of the board 8can be controlled. Both outsides of the drive area is free area in whichthe rocking cannot be controlled and the board 8 carries out a naturalpendulum motion.

In case of the natural pendulum motion, when a maximum rocking angle isθ_(M), a velocity v at a rocking angle θ is obtained according to thelaw of conservation of energy as follows.

    V={2gL(cosθ-cosθ.sub.M)}.sup.1/2               (1)

Where g is acceleration of gravity and L is length of pendulum.

When the board 8 is to be accelerated, the maximum rocking angle is setto a required value larger than the present maximum rocking angle θ_(M)and a velocity v at a rocking angle θ within the drive area iscalculated according to the above equation (1). And the rockingservomotor 70 is controlled so that circumferential velocity of thefriction wheel 60 becomes v when rocking angle of the board 8 is θ.

It is similar when the board 8 is to be decelerated. In this case, themaximum rocking angle is set to a required value smaller than thepresent maximum rocking angle θ_(M).

Whether the board 8 is to be accelerated or decelerated and an extent ofthe acceleration, that is the maximum rocking angle of the board 8, aredecided by operation of the player P on the board 8.

Weight given to the step plates 45 on which right and left feet of theplayer P are placed, respectively, are detected by the pressure sensors46, and when the maximum rocking angle is intended to be made larger, itis necessary that the player shifts his own weight timely to give one ofthe step plates 45 more weight.

If the player shifts his weight toward advancing direction to give moreweight to the step plate 45 of the advancing side when the board 8begins to return, the board 8 is accelerated and the maximum rockingangle exceeds the preceding value.

The acceleration of the board 8 is large when the board begins to returnfrom the maximum rocking angle and the acceleration is set to be smalleras the rocking angle becomes smaller. Therefore, the extent of themaximum rocking angle is decided by timing of the weight shifting sothat a technical skill is required.

A player P having a superior skill can make the maximum rocking angle ofthe board 8 large to enjoy an exciting play and attract attention ofsurrounding onlookers.

A basic rocking control when one player P rides on the board 8 has beendescribed above. When two players ride on one board 8, operation timingsof weight shifts of the two players are compared and an operation whichis more pertinent to make the maximum rocking angle larger is selectedfor acceleration control.

Namely, the acceleration is carried out based on an operation of aplayer who shifts the weight toward advancing direction of the boardsooner when the board 8 begins to turn from the maximum rocking angle.Therefore, when two players having different skills ride on the sameboard 8, the rocking control is carried out based on an operation of aplayer having superior skill so that another player also can experiencethe same exciting play.

Alternatively, when the two operation timings are different, a meantiming may be led to set the maximum rocking angle based on the meantiming. In this case, when operation timings of the two players on theboard are coincide with each other and pertinent, the maximum rockingangle can be made larger.

Regarding the maximum rocking angle, a certain limit rocking angle θ_(Z)is set.

Next, the description will made with regard to the revolving control.

Revolving of the board 8 is carried out by that the limit switch 42detects slanting of the slanting plate 40 due to foot operation of theplayer and the revolving servomotor 33 is driven in accordance with thedetection signal. The revolving of the board 8 is also greatlyinfluenced by the operation timing.

Referring to FIG. 13, the control mode differs in accordance with therocking angle θ of the board 8. Defined boundaries by an rocking angleθ_(S) smaller than the limit rocking angle θ_(Z) somewhat, a continuousrevolving mode area which is a range of the rocking angle smaller thanthe rocking angle θ_(S) and a revolving command mode area which is arange of the rocking angle larger than the rocking angle θ_(S) are set.

When the board 8 is in the continuous revolving mode area, the revolvingcontrol is carried out in such a manner that the revolution is continuedso far as either limit switch 42 is turned on, but maximum velocity ofthe revolution is decided in accordance with the rocking velocity of theboard 8.

Namely, as shown in FIG. 14, the rocking velocity and the revolvingvelocity are substantially in inverse proportion to each other. Therocking velocity (dotted line in FIG. 14) is 0 at a maximum rockingangle and increases gradually to a maximum velocity at the lowest pointof the board 8, then decreases gradually to 0 at another maximum rockingangle. On the one hand, the revolving velocity (solid line in FIG. 14)changes so that the sum of the both rocking and revolving velocitiesbecomes about constant. That is, the revolving velocity is largest atthe maximum rocking angle where the rocking velocity is 0, decreases asthe rocking angle becomes small, and is smallest at the lowest point.The foregoing is a revolving control in the continuous revolving modearea.

In the revolving command mode area, if the limit switch 42 is turned onwith a good timing, the board 8 is revolved twice at the most and whenthe limit switch 42 is turned off, revolving of the board 8 isdecelerated and stopped with the board 8 directed toward the rockingadvancing direction.

Since the revolving command mode area itself is a range wherein therocking velocity is small and the board 8 is positioned high, the board8 can be behaved as the board of the actual half-pipe game which isrevolved when it jumps out of the half-pipe.

The board 8 has two limit switches 42 either of which is turned on todecide direction of the revolving.

When a single player rides on the board 8, the turning-on operation ofthe limit switch 42 can be carried out as he likes, however, when twoplayers ride on the board 8, since the both stand on the common slantingplate 40, if the players try to slant the slanting plate 40 to oppositedirections, the slanting plate 40 does not slant and any limit switches42 are not turned on. Only when the players coincide to slant theslanting plate 40 in the same direction, the slanting plate 40 slantsand the limit switch 42 detects it.

According to the above-mentioned half-pipe-game plying apparatus, whenthe player P rides on the board 8 and fasten the safety belt to startthe play, for a while, the rocking servomotor is driven in normal andreverse direction regardless of operation of the player P so thatrocking angle of the board 8 becomes larger gradually. Therefore, even aquite beginner can enjoy the play. Or, even a person having noexperience in the actual skateboard or snow-board can enjoy the play andexperience the half-pipe game simulatively.

An example of the play sequence is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 isa flow chart of the play sequence and FIG. 16 is a graph showing changeof rocking of the board according to the play sequence.

At first, an outline of the change of rocking will be describedreferring to FIG. 16. After the player rides on the board 8, firstly theboard 8 is rocked so that the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) reaches aninitial angle θ1 regardless of operation of the player P. After that, ifthe player P operates the step plates 45 with the most suitable timing,the maximum rocking angle reaches the limit rocking angle θ_(Z) by ashortest time Ta (two dots-dash line in FIG. 16). However, even ifoperation timing of the player P is not suit at all or the player doesnot operate, the maximum rocking angle can reach the limit rocking angleθ_(Z) by a longest time Tb (one dot-dash line in FIG. 16).

That is, usually the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) changes between the onedot-dash line and the two dots-dash line in FIG. 16 and if the player isan expert having a superior skill, change of the maximum rocking angleapproaches the two dots-dash line and the maximum rocking angle reachesthe limit rocking angle in a short time. Therefore the expert can stayin the revolving command mode area for longer time to enjoy revolvingthe board 8.

After the time Tb, the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) becomes smallergradually to the initial angle θ1 and then the board returns to a basicposition where the player rode thereon.

According to FIG. 15 which is a flow chart of the above play sequence,at first, the player P rides on the board 8 and fasten the safety belt(Step 1), then the board 8 rocks to the initial angle θ1 (Step 2).Subsequently a play timer is started (Step 3), and rocking velocitycontrol is commenced (Step 4).

Until the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) reaches the limit rocking angleθ_(Z) (Step 5), Δθ is added to the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) toincrease the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) gradually (Step 6). Ifoperation instruction and operation timing of the player is pertinent,value of Δθ is determined to be large accordingly and the limit rockingangle θ_(Z) is reached in a short time.

When the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) reaches the limit rocking angleθ_(Z) (Step 5), the flow advances from Step 5 to Step 7 and waits tillthe play timer reaches the time Tb so that the player P can enjoyrevolving play in the meantime.

When the play timer reaches the time Tb (Step 7), the flow advances toStep 8. And at Step 9, Δθ is subtracted from the maximum rocking angleθ_(M) to reduce the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) gradually till themaximum rocking angle θ_(M) reaches the initial angle θ1.

When the maximum rocking angle θ_(M) reaches the initial angle θ1 (Step8), the flow advances to Step 10 to finish the rocking velocity control,then the board 8 is returned to the initial basic point (Step 11).

After that, the player P puts off the safety belt (Step 12) to bereleased (Step 13) and gets out of the board 8 to finish the play.

According to the above play sequence, since even a beginner can rock theboard 8 to the limit rocking angle θ_(Z) and have about the sameexperience as an expert, people on wide classes can enjoy the play.

However, the above-mentioned play sequence is only an example, and,alternatively, a play sequence in which the maximum rocking angle θ_(M)does not reach the limit rocking angle θ_(Z) if the operation is notpertinent is also possible. According to such a play sequence, theexpert can enjoy more thrilling and exciting play, on the one hand, thegeneral people can be roused to obtain skills more and more. Further,other various play sequences can be intended.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be utilized for a vehicle playing apparatushaving a simulated vehicle moving variably along a predeterminedorbiting path on which a player rides to operate it himself.

I claim:
 1. A vehicle playing apparatus comprising:a vehicle movingvariably on which a player rides; drive means for driving said vehicle;detection means for detecting a state of said vehicle; operation meansprovided on said vehicle which is operated by said player with a timingselected by said player; and control means for controlling said drivemeans based on a detection signal inputted from said detection means andan operation signal inputted from said operation means, said controlmeans outputting an instruction signal to sad drive means in accordancewith said detection signal, said operation signal and timing of saidoperation signal in view of said state of said vehicle.
 2. A vehicleplaying apparatus comprising;a vehicle moving variably along apredetermined orbiting path on which a player rides; drive means fordriving said vehicle; detection means for detecting a state of saidvehicle; operation means provided on said vehicle; and control means forcontrolling said drive means based on a detection signal inputted fromsaid detection means and an operation signal inputted from saidoperation means, said control means outputting an instruction signal tosaid drive means in accordance with said detection signal, saidoperation signal and timing of said operation signal in view of saidstate of said vehicle, said orbiting path being divided into an orbitingrange in which said vehicle is automatically moved and another orbitingrange in which said vehicle behaves differently and moves in accordancewith an operation of said player.
 3. A vehicle playing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said control means outputs aninstruction signal to said drive means so as to encourage presentmovement of said vehicle when timing of said operation signal are judgedpertinent in view of the state of said vehicle.
 4. A vehicle playingapparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said vehicle movesvariably along a plurality of orbiting paths, said drive means,detection means and operation means are provided for each of theorbiting paths respectively, and said control means outputs instructionsignals for each of the orbiting paths to corresponding drive means. 5.A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a sum ofvelocities of variable moves on said plurality of the orbiting paths isalways below a predetermined value.
 6. A vehicle playing apparatus asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said vehicle moves variably along twoorbiting paths, a sum of a velocity of variable move on an orbiting pathand a velocity of variable move on another orbiting path is constant,and when the velocity on an orbiting path is maximum, the velocity onanother orbiting path is minimum.
 7. A vehicle playing apparatus asclaimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of operation means are providedfor an orbiting path of the vehicle, and said control means decides saidinstruction signal to be outputted to said drive means based on aplurality of operation signals from said operation means.
 8. A vehicleplaying apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control meansselects a most pertinent operation signal among said operation signalsin view of state of the vehicle for deciding said instruction signal. 9.A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a mean valueof said operation signals is calculated for deciding said instructionsignal.
 10. A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2,wherein said vehicle is a board hung from a pivotal shaft so as to rockfreely moving right and left along a pendulum rocking orbiting path. 11.A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said drivemeans comprises a rotary friction wheel coming into contact with anarcuate lower surface of said board to rock said board.
 12. A vehicleplaying apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein operation means to beoperated by feet of said player on said board is provided.
 13. A vehicleplaying apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said operation meanscomprises a pair of step plates provided on an upper surface of saidboard for placing respective feet of said player and pressure sensorsfitted to said respective step plates for detecting stepping forces ofsaid feet, detection signal of said pressure means being used as saidoperation signal.
 14. A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim13, wherein said control means outputs an instruction signal to saiddrive means so as to encourage present rocking of said vehicle whenindications and timings of both operation signals from a pair of saidstep plates are judged pertinent in view of rocking state of saidvehicle.
 15. A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, whereinsaid operation means comprises plural pairs of step plates provided onan upper surface of said board on which respective feet of a pluralityof players are placed, and pressure sensors fitted to said step platesto detect stepping forces of right and left feet, and a detection signalfrom said pressure sensors is used as said operation signal.
 16. Avehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said controlmeans selects an operation signal from signals of a pair of said stepplates which is judged that indication and timing are most pertinent inview of rocking state of said vehicle and outputs an instruction signalto said drive means based on said selected signal so as to encouragepresent rocking of said vehicle.
 17. A vehicle playing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein:said vehicle is a board hung from apivotal shaft for rocking, capable of revolving about its own centralvertical axis, having a rocking orbiting path directed right and leftand a revolving orbiting path round said axis; rocking drive means,rocking detection means and rocking operation means corresponding tosaid rocking orbiting path are provided; revolving drive means,revolving detection means and revolving operation means corresponding tosaid revolving orbiting path are provided; and said control meansoutputs respective signals for said orbiting paths to correspondingdrive means.
 18. A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 17,wherein:a slanting plate supporting a pair of step plates is pivoted onan upper surface of said board so as to slant; said rocking operationmeans is constituted by said step plates and pressure sensors fitted tosaid step plates, detection signal of said pressure sensor being used assaid rocking operation signal ; said revolving operation means isconstituted by said slanting plate and slanting sensors fitted to saidslanting plate, detection signal of said slanting sensor being used assaid revolving operation signal.
 19. A vehicle playing apparatus asclaimed in claim 18, wherein said control means outputs an instructionsignal to said rocking drive means so as to encourage present rocking ofsaid board when indication and timing of said rocking operation signalare judged pertinent in view of rocking state of said board, and outputsan instruction signal to said revolving drive means so as to revolvesaid board when indication and timing of said revolving operation signalis judged pertinent in view of rocking state of said board.
 20. Avehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said controlmeans judges that timing of said revolving operation signal is morepertinent ant outputs an instruction signal to said revolving drivemeans so as to revolve said board faster as rocking velocity of saidboard is smaller.
 21. A vehicle playing apparatus as claimed in claim17, wherein:a slanting plate supporting pairs of step plates is pivotedon an upper surface of said board so as to slant; pairs of pressuresensors are fitted to respective said step plates for outputting rockingoperation signals as said rocking operation means; and said controlmeans selects an operation signal from said rocking operation signalswhich is judged that indication and timing are most pertinent in view ofrocking state of said board and outputs an instruction signal to saidrocking drive means based on said selected signal so as to encouragepresent rocking of said board.
 22. A vehicle playing apparatuscomprising;a vehicle moving variably on which a player rides; drivemeans for moving said vehicle; operation signal output means foroutputting an operation signal in response to an operation of saidplayer; detection means for detecting a state of said vehicle; andcontrol means for automatically controlling said drive means of saidvehicle in accordance with a predetermined program when said state ofthe vehicle, as detected by said detection means, is different from apredetermined state.
 23. A vehicle playing apparatus comprising:avehicle moving variably on which a player rides; a drive mechanism fordriving said vehicle; a detection member for detecting a state of saidvehicle; an operation member provided on said vehicle which isoperational by said player at a timing selected by said player; and acontroller for controlling said drive mechanism based on a detectionsignal inputted from said detection member and an operation signalinputted from said operation member, said controller outputting aninstruction signal to said drive mechanism in accordance with saiddetection signal, said operation signal and timing of said operationsignal in view of said state of vehicle.
 24. A vehicle playing apparatuscomprising:a vehicle movable on a predetermined orbiting path, on whicha player rides; a drive mechanism for driving said vehicle so as to movealong said orbiting path; detection equipment for detecting a state ofsaid vehicle on said orbiting path to generate a state signal; anoperation member provided on said vehicle which is operational by saidplayer at a timing selected by said player; signal generating equipmentfor generating an operation signal corresponding to the operation ofsaid operation member; and a controller for controlling said drivemechanism based on said state signal inputted from said detectionequipment and said operation signal inputted from said operation member,said controller outputting an instruction signal to said drive mechanismin accordance with said state signal, said operation signal and timingof said operation signal in view of said state of said vehicle.
 25. Avehicle playing apparatus comprising:a board on which a player rideshung from a pivotal shaft so as to rock freely; a board drive mechanismfor engaging with said board to rock said board about said pivotalshaft; detection equipment for detecting a state of rocking of saidboard so as to generate a state signal; an operation member provided onsaid vehicle which is operational by said player at a timing selected bysaid player; signal generating equipment for generating an operationsignal corresponding to the operation of said operation member; and acontroller for controlling said drive mechanism based on said statesignal inputted from said detection equipment and said operation signalinputted from said signal generating equipment, said controlleroutputting an instruction signal to said drive mechanism in accordancewith said state signal, said operation signal and timing of saidoperation signal in view of said state of said vehicle.